How do I become a fundraiser? Expand We are currently developing our fundraising plans and have several exciting projects in development. If you are interested in getting involved either as a fundraiser or by offering support or feedback please contact Lisa Tame our Impacts and Engagement Director on [email protected] or by calling 01566 771930.
How do I contact South West Lakes Trust? Expand You can contact us by submitting an enquiry form, calling us on 01566 771930 or by emailing us on [email protected]
Our Trustees Our Board of Trustees meet six times per year, monitoring the overall performance of the charity and making sure that we continue to pursue our charitable aims. All our Trustees volunteer their time, experience and enthusiasm to support the Chief Executive and the team in achieving our strategic goals. Expand John Lee OBE DL, Chairman John is a land and property owner and manager from Devon. He chairs the DEFRA National Appeals Panel and The Rural Youth Trust, is a Trustee of the Farmers Club, London and the National Federation of Young Farmers Clubs (NFYFC), a Patron of Devon and Cornwall Police Cadets and a Joint Parton of Local Heroes – an anti-bullying charity. John is also Liveryman for the Worshipful Company of Farmers, The Incorporation of Weavers, Fullers and Shearmen. He is a Freeman of the City of London and Deputy Lieutenant of Devon. Previously John has held various appointments at local, regional, national and European levels - examples include Chair of Governors of Bicton College, Chair of Devon County Agricultural Association, High Sheriff of Devon, Founder Chairman of SWARD (South West Agriculture and Rural Development Programme) on behalf of the SWRDA, Founder Chairman of Farming and Countryside Education (FACE) a national education charity, Chairman of NFYFC, President of the European Exchange Programme on behalf of EC, and member of the Common Agricultural Policy Advisory Committee as an EU Commissioners appointee. John’s extensive experience has led him to chair many conferences on behalf of the European Union, as well as provide keynotes speeches on their behalf. Malcolm Bell MBE Malcolm was Chief Executive at Visit Cornwall from 2010 to 2023 when he became the Executive Chairman. His previous appointment was as Chief Executive of South West Tourism from 1999 to 2010. Prior to this he was Director of Economic Development for Devon and Cornwall, supporting the development of key projects including the National Marine Aquarium, The Eden Project, National Maritime Museum Cornwall as well as numerous training and business support programmes. From 2004 to 2016 Malcolm was also the UK destination representative on the European Commission Tourism Sustainability Group. Malcolm is currently the Chairman and a non-executive director of South West Lakes Limited, South West Lakes Trust's trading subsidiary. Dinah Nichols CB Dinah is a Governor of Plymouth University and a Trustee of the Land Trust. She was previously a non-executive director of Pennon Plc, a Commissioner of The Crown Estate, Chair of the National Forest Company and Director General (Environment) at DEFRA. She recently stepped down as Chair of the Keep Britain Tidy campaign. Ed Mitchell Ed was appointed in 2017 as Director of Environment for Pennon. Prior to this he was Executive Director at the Environment Agency, responsible for their approach to water quality, water resources, industry regulation, land management, climate change adaptation and sustainable development. Ed is a Non-Executive Director of Water and Sanitation for the Urban Poor, a not-for-profit company he helped set up which provides water, sanitation and hygiene services to people living in slums in the developing world. He is also Deputy Chair of South West Water and Bournemouth Water’s Customer Challenge Group, the WaterFuture Customer Panel and Chair of South West Water’s Conservation and Recreation Forum. He chairs the Canal and River Trust Environmental Advisory Group and is a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Vale Academy Trust, a group of primary and secondary schools in Oxfordshire. Chris Balch Chris is Emeritus Professor of Planning at Plymouth University where he taught following a career in planning and economic consultancy, advising government and private sector clients on major projects and programmes covering regeneration, leisure and tourism, and infrastructure. He is an experienced business manager, having been Managing Director of DTZ UK & Ireland, and Non-Executive Director/Trustee. He is currently Non Executive and Senior Independent Director of Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust and Board member of LiveWest housing association. He was until recently on the Supervisory Board of Ecorys bv, a European policy and research consultancy and has chaired Hilson Moran, an engineering consultancy and Basildon Renaissance Partnership. Chris has previously advised SWW and the Trust on balancing conservation, public access and recreation across the reservoirs of the south west and chaired the Burrator Advisory Group before becoming a Trustee of South West Lakes Trust. Dan James Dan has had over 20 years experience within rural development and protected landscape management, balancing the needs of people and places. He currently heads up the Enterprise and Communications team at Exmoor National Park Authority overseeing the National Parks work on tourism and business support, economic development, income generation, communications, National Park Centres and grant programmes. Prior to his current role, Dan was the Operations Director for the Snowdonia Society, where he led the public fundraising appeal for the new Snowdon summit building. Dan Chaired the Heart of the South West Rural Productivity Board, and has represented the South West’s National Parks on the Heart of the South West’s Policy and Technical Advisory Group, as well as serving as an advisor and/or board member to various funding programmes. He was the lead Tourism Officer for the UK National Parks over several years, during which time the National Parks were awarded the prestigious Outstanding Contribution to Tourism Award from Visit England. He has successfully secured and delivered grant funded projects from a range of sources including European and Central Government, Lottery, charitable trusts and philanthropic support. Jo Traill Thomson Jo is currently working on natural capital and local delivery for Natural England with responsibility for the Defra North Devon Landscape Pioneer. Previously she has worked as an Environmental Economics Adviser in Southern Africa with IUCN and the Department for International Development. Since 2001 she has worked in the South West on externally funded projects, protected landscapes and with Cornwall Council as a Strategy Manager. Ashley Shopland Ashley, now retired, was the General Manager of the UK Platform within Imerys Minerals Ltd. the china clay company based in St Austell. Originally from Launceston, his career started with English China Clays (ECC) where he gained his professional qualification in accountancy. Through various roles, he travelled abroad extensively with the company and had responsibility for a business supplying UK products globally. He also served on the SW Council of the CBI for many years, as well as previously being a Governor of various schools in the St Austell area. Ashley is now the Vice-Chair of Trustee's with the Athena Learning Trust covering nine secondary and primary schools in Cornwall and North Devon, as well as a member of the Executive Committee of the Cornwall Rugby Football Union where he covers a Financial and Commercial Development remit. Ashley’s experience with Imerys covered all facets of General Management, but in particular covered New Business Development and Real Estate Management over his last 10-12 years with the Company. Key developments ranged from: the creation of an eco-community (Eco-Bos) to create a whole new community on former china clay workings / land; the set-up of a recycling business hosting third party 'green / inert' waste streams and the creation of artificial soils to compliment the extensive land restoration program; expansion of the secondary aggregate (china clay by-product) business to include significant exports out of the SW region; introducing the prospect of lithium extraction and processing via third party interest and leading to Imerys agreeing to direct involvement in a jv to progress this through to commercial reality; and a network of renewable energy installations (wind and solar) across Cornwall/Devon, many used to supplement the industry's own consumption. Monica Read Monica was, until recently, Business Services & Sustainability Director of South West Water Limited. She joined South West Water in 1992 and was responsible for Business Development, HR and Employee Development. Prior to South West Water, Monica worked for Touche Ross & Co. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and is a graduate in Environmental Science. Monica is a non-executive director of the Trust's trading company, South West Lakes Limited. South West Lakes Limited South West Lakes ltd. (company number 03955075) is the charity's wholly owned trading subsidiary which operates activity centres, campsites, angling and hospitality venues. Profits are gift aided to the charity. Malcolm Bell is a Non-Executive Director and chairs the subsidiary. Malcolm is joined on the board of the subsidiary by Monica Read, Dan James, James Platts (also Chief Executive) and Ashley Shopland.
Our Team We strive to be: forward thinking, ambitious, balanced, open, committed, friendly…and fun! Expand James Platts, FRSA, Chief Executive I believe the environment is key to all we do; we need to value the environment for the societal and economic benefits it gives each and every one of us. Access to a diverse, linked environment helps people from all walks of life grow physically and mentally. My time working for South West Lakes Trust has been really rewarding, whether teaching a blind lady to sail at Roadford Lake, helping the wardens with fishing competitions at Porth Reservoir, managing the installation of new accessible trails at Siblyback Lake, or more recently working to improve habitats across our sites. As Chief Executive, I want to support the work of our teams to care for the environment and ensure as many people as possible can benefit from accessing the outdoors. I live on the Devon - Cornwall border with my wife and two children and enjoy sailing with my family on the river Tamar and on our lakes. I am a firm believer that education unlocks the world and I continue to support this through the education projects our charity delivers. Colin Vallance, Heritage and Governance Director I love the variety of being involved in such a dynamic charity which combines my passion for the countryside with the opportunity to make a difference for people. I have had the privilege of working in many roles within the Trust since 2000, overseeing the governance, marketing, communications and central support services of the organisation, as well as heading up the subsidiary charity, Wheal Martyn Trust. Wheal Martyn celebrates and makes accessible the heritage of one of Cornwall’s most important industries, in such a special and unique place – I am continually inspired by the dedication and passion of our wonderful volunteers who help make this happen. Lesley Whitworth, FCA, Chief Financial Officer I love working here. Every day I come into work and learn something new: how to tackle invasive plants in my garden, how to identify different birds and butterflies that visit our lakes, the fascinating history of the clay industry in Cornwall and that there are some big fish lurking at the bottom of our lakes! I have recently purchased two paddleboards, so I am looking forward to spending some quality family time at the lakes, camping and splashing around! Neil Reeves, Managing Director, South West Lakes Limited You only need to look out over one of our lakes on a sunny day to understand why I do what I do. This, combined with a passion for the natural world and encouraging people of all ages and abilities to enjoy and learn from it fills me with enthusiasm. I love living on Dartmoor with my family and working to deliver conservation, access and recreation across the lakes of the South West with simply “the best” team of staff and volunteers is a real privilege. I am also on the management committee of the national Visitor Safety Group. Nicola Morris, BSc (Hons), ResM, MRSB, Head of Environment My job is as much about enabling people to engage with and enjoy our natural environment as it is conserving habitats and species. Seeing a child explore the woods or a family picnic in a meadow takes me back to my childhood. I loved woodland or seafront walks and now I enjoy daily walks on Bodmin Moor. I am very fortunate to lead a team of skilled, passionate Ecologists and Project Officers. Coming to work is a real pleasure. Together we deliver exciting, sometimes challenging, projects making positive impacts on our natural world. Each day is different with plenty of opportunities to use my knowledge in invasion biology, conservation, teaching and project management. The beautiful sites never fail to inspire and I always leave feeling calmer having enjoyed their tranquillity. Nick Herbert-Threlkeld, Head of Countryside As Head of Countryside, I lead our ranger team to provide safe, welcoming places for all to enjoy. I work to improve our land management practices and support the progress of vital conservation projects. I joined the trust in 2019 as Senior Ranger on Exmoor, bringing experience from previous roles and volunteering in the North West with the National Trust, Wildlife Trust and following this over six years As Ranger on Lundy Island (North Devon), leading on practical land management and conservation. During my time with South West Lakes Trust, I’ve expanded my expertise, widening my knowledge of conservation, recreation and the water industry, having had great opportunities to develop my career. I’m grateful to have the privilege of working with such an enthusiastic and passionate team, working within this dynamic and ever developing charity. Ian Morgan, Head of NCS I am really happy to be working with such a great charity, full of such enthusiasm for what they do. Bringing NCS into this environment is a great opportunity for me and I am really looking forward to seeing as many programmes as possible get under way here at the Lakes. I have no doubt the young people that take part in the NCS journey we offer, will be back to enjoy our lakes long after their programmes finish. Becky Moran, Head of Communications and Marketing I’ve been passionate about the environment, wildlife and the outdoors from a young age so what better place to work than the region’s largest environmental and recreational charity! I’m also an award-winning journalist and public relations professional, including a number of years in the water industry, so you could say we’re a match made in heaven. I’ve been at South West Lakes Trust since 2021 and learn something new every day about all the amazing things this charity does. Matt Lennox, Head of Activities I have been part of the incredible charitable efforts of South West Lakes Trust since my teenage years, beginning as a kayaking instructor at Tamar Lake during summers whilst I studied, and moving up through different positions in the organisation. My career has always been driven by my love for the outdoors, with a constant desire to share its many benefits with as many people as possible. My job nowadays as Head of Activities is extremely varied, which is what I really enjoy, but I get the greatest satisfaction from being able to share my knowledge, skills and experience with the amazing South West Lakes Trust activity team who I’m very privileged to lead. Hannah Mason, Activity Centre Manager - Roadford Matt Loughlin, Activity Centre Manager - Stithians Naomi Beckwith, Activity Centre Manager - Wimbleball Jon Morley, Visitor Experience Manager, Bournemouth Terri Nicholls, BSc (Hons), Ecologist I am an early career ecologist working for the Trust on a South West Water funded project focussed on Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI’s). Here I am able to put my Environmental Resource Management and Conservation and Ecology degree, gained through Plymouth University and Cornwall College Group to good use. The main aims of the project are to help achieve ‘Favourable Conservation Status’ (FCS) through enhancing and/or maintaining their nationally important habitats and their designated features. Currently a qualifying member of CIEEM, I have been incredibly lucky to gain experience from work alongside our in-house environment and countryside teams in a range of subjects from management plans to collecting valuable data with expert biological recorders across two counties. I have been a voluntary conservationist for many years, so to be working with a variety of ecologically rare and important habitats and those species associated with them is a wonderful start to my professional career and rewarding in so many ways. Laura Dee, BA (Hons), Invasive Species Officer Working for South West Lakes Trust has allowed me to engage in the world of Invasive Non-Native Species (INNS). Since I started in September 2023 I have learnt so much and gained a plethora of knowledge in the environmental sector. My role is to help raise awareness of INNS and to implement biosecurity measures on our sites. This includes assisting with the installation of wash-down facilities, dip tanks and boot scrubs. You might see me out and about at the lakes as I cover a variety across Devon and Cornwall. When I am not at work I like to keep active by climbing and hiking. I come from a land/ watersports background and love being in the outdoors! Morwenna Moore, BSc (Hons), MSc, Dartmoor Biodiversity Officer I joined South West Lakes in September 2022, after moving down from the Scottish highlands, and have been having an amazing time working at Burrator and Venford since. I am working on Green Recovery projects on Dartmoor which has been loads of fun, I spend many of my days with volunteers making leaky dams with willow and planting trees. I have learnt a lot in my role, about Dartmoor, rivers, woodlands and moorlands and enjoy working with local people to create the best results for nature and people. When I’m not at work, I am climbing, wild swimming and walking. Kat Sarjeant, BA (Hons), PGDip, Trainee Ecologist I joined the Trust in October 2023 as trainee ecologist and feel so fortunate to have this wonderful job! I am working on a project to deliver biodiversity enhancements at 14 sites across Devon and Cornwall. I love getting out and about to different and learning about all the diverse habitats and species present at our sites. I can’t wait to start making improvements to these habitats for the benefit of wildlife. I am also very privileged to work with such a great team of people as well as lots of amazing volunteers who give up their personal time to help nature. Alan Smith, Senior Ranger (Roadford, Tamar and North Devon) Dil Singh, Senior Ranger (Dartmoor) Jeremy Fielden, Senior Ranger (Cornwall) Briony Wood, Communications and Marketing Manager Jen Carr, Digital Communications and Marketing Officer
Our Patrons Keith Bungay, Cairns Boston, Peter Briens, Roger Preston, David Robertson Expand Keith Bungay Cairns Boston Peter Briens Roger Preston David Robertson
Where will I be going? Expand Full details of where your specific team will be going will be provided in your itinerary nearer the time. As a general overview: Be Epic (phase 1): We will be taking everyone to a local activity centre for 2 days of land and water based activities where you will be participating in team building and fun activities including our Epic Challenge! Live Life (phase 2): We will be staying in university accommodation where you will be able to take part in independent living workshops with our trained staff and meet special guest speakers from local organisations and charities. Do Good (phase 3 / phases 3&4): During your final phase of NCS you’ll be closer to your local area and during your planning days we’ll organise some working space for you and your team leaders. This will be shared on your itinerary which we’ll get out to you closer to the time of your start date. You’re also off residential and back in your own bed now. Whilst we can’t guarantee that the social action project will be delivered in your home town (due to the required mix of people in your team), you will discuss and decide on the best option of where to meet and plan or deliver your project each day, with guidance from your team leaders during your project planning phase.
How do I get there? Expand Be Epic (phase 1) & Live Life (phase 2): Transport to and from the accommodation venues from your local ‘drop off point’ is covered by NCS on these phases and we’ll let you know exactly what time and where your pickup point will be in plenty of time prior to programme start. We’ll do our best to ensure this isn’t too far away from your home address. Do Good (phase 3): During this phase of NCS it’s up to you to organise how you’ll get to your prearranged meet-up point for planning the project and where you and your team have decided to deliver your Social Action Project. We suggest lift sharing and use of public transport where possible but, again, this should be discussed and organised with your team leader at the end of each day.
What do I bring with me? Expand All phases: We’ll send you out an NCS Kit List (for all phases of NCS) in plenty of time prior to your programme start date, along with full details of where you will be going, the activities planned and sleeping arrangements for week one of your two week programme.
What activities will I be getting up to? Expand Be Epic (phase 1): We make sure there is a good mix of water based and land based activities for everyone to enjoy. Live Life (phase 2): At South West Lakes Trust we look to provide a week full of exciting activities for you to enjoy and benefit from and, whilst timetables may differ between teams, the sort of sessions/workshops you can expect are: Enterprise challenge, Community Mapping, Food for Thought, how to deliver a worthwhile community project, introducing healthier ways to live… among many, many more!
Sounds amazing but tiring, do I get the chance to chill out? Expand Of course! We understand that it’s your summer holiday and that you’ll want the chance to chill out either on your own or with your new found mates on NCS. There are plenty of opportunities to relax, take in the views, read a book, sit round the campfire or whatever makes you feel ‘zen’. We’ll also be organising night-time activities for all the teams onsite to get involved in but, as with everything on NCS, it’s your choice to take part or not.
Will I ever be forced to do an activity? Expand Definitely not, the experience is all centred around making sure you’re having an amazing time so all we ask is that you’re up for giving new things a go, but if there’s anything that doesn’t ‘float your boat’ you can step out of any activity you wish to.
Who looks after me? Expand Each team of 16 young people will be supported and supervised by 2 fully trained Team leaders throughout their experience. They’ll help you out throughout your NCS journey on every phase and they’ll make sure you’re having a laugh and that you’re safe.